India were 510 for five in their first innings at tea on the third day of the third 
India lead New Zealand by 317 runs.
Along with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 batting, 48 balls, 6×4), Dravid added 58 runs for the sixth wicket to consolidate India’s position in the match.
The moment he tucked Daniel Vettori to square leg for a double, it was more about the release of pressure than celebration for the former India captain.
It took him 256 balls and 384 minutes to complete the ton having hit 12 boundaries in the process.
Dhoni, who has also faced a lot of flak of late for his subdued batting, looked to hit his way out of bad patch with a flurry of boundaries of the pace bowlers.
Some of the shots reminded the Dhoni of three years back when he used to attack the bowlers with great gusto.
The whole country waited in anticipation of Sachin Tendulkar’s 50th Test century but it was disappointment as he was out as early as second over of the day.
Needing 43 runs to complete what would have been a first in the history of Test cricket, debutant Andy McKay got rid of the iconic batsman of the very third ball he faced.
After steering the left-arm pacer to the third-man boundary, McKay got one to lift from short of good length.
The awkward bounce forced Sachin to get squared up and the snick was gleefully gobbled up by Gareth Hopkins standing behind the stumps.
Sachin scored 61 off 129 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries.
For McKay, who has waited in the wings for several years, it couldn’t have been a more memorable first Test wicket.
For the thousands of Tendulkar fans, they would now have to wait in anticipation till the Test series in South Africa starts as it looks unlikely that the legendary batsman would get a chance to complete the landmark if India bat last.
VVS Laxman (10) who has enjoyed a fantastic season so far started off in style with a short-arm pull of McKay and caressing the same bowler through the covers.
However Chris Martin bowled a lethal inswinger that sent the Hyderabad batsman’s leg-stump cartwheeling.
There was absolutely no footwork from Laxman as he remained rooted in his crease. The movement was sharp and the ball had the pace which undid Laxman.
Raina, who is in woeful form of late, didn’t last long offering a simple bat-pad catch off Daniel Vettori to substitute Brian Watling standing at forward short leg.
Brief Score:
New Zealand 1st Innings: 193 all out
India 1st Innings: 386/5 in 115 overs (Rahul Dravid 166 batting, Mahendra Singh Dhoni 95 batting, Sachin Tendulkar 61; Daniel Vettori 2/155).